Two charged with armed robbery of Fort Pierce Waffle House need gas money, police say
May 12th, 2009 by TCPalm.comFORT PIERCE — Raybin J. Williams said he had to do what he had to do for gas money to make it back home.
That, police said, apparently included robbing a Waffle House with another man Monday and taking a couple of shots at someone who fired at him.
In the end, Williams, 24, and 22-year-old Corey Cooper, were arrested following the 3:10 a.m. stick-up of the Okeechobee Road eatery, according to records and a police spokeswoman.
Williams told investigators their Cadillac Escalade ran out of gas and he and Cooper pushed it to a hotel near the Waffle House. Williams said he pointed a loaded 9 mm pistol toward Waffle House workers, while Cooper said he grabbed cash from the register.
Williams and Cooper, both of Deerfield Beach, went in the restaurant and Cooper sat at the counter, asking if he could order take out. Williams said he had to use the bathroom, and was pointing a 9 mm pistol in the direction of employees when he came out. Cooper got about $100 or $200 before they left, according to a report.
Meanwhile, a Waffle House worker who was outside said she ran to a gas station to call 911. She told two people who were pumping gas what happened as she ran in the filling station.
Investigators found Cooper at Okeechobee Road and Crossroads Parkway. He said he lost the stolen money and his Blackberry phone while running away.
Williams turned up in the white Escalade — along with a loaded 9 mm pistol, ammunition and a small amount of marijuana — at a hotel about 200 yards from the Waffle House. Williams said a man shot at him twice as he ran from the Waffle House and he returned fire.
Williams said he committed the robbery, according to the police report. He said he knew what he was doing was wrong, noting, “I had to do what I had to do to get money for gas to get back home,” an affidavit states.
Williams faces charges including robbery with firearm, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, firing a weapon in public, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted United States felon and larceny.
Cooper was arrested on armed robbery and petit theft charges, according to a Fort Pierce police spokeswoman.
By Will Greenlee
Tags: ammunition, arrest, beach, Cadillac, cash, fire, firearm, hotel, housing, man, marijuana, money, Okeechobee, police, possession, restaurant, roads, robbed, robbery, shot, theft, yard
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May 12th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Driving in a Cadillac Escalade with a 9mm and weed and that’s the best plan they had to come up with cash? Why didn’t they try to sell the weed or wait until morning and pawn the gun?
May 12th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Well, I say if they had to do what they had to do. They would be facing less time if they had pumped gas and pulled off.
Don’t do drugs and know who you are rolling with-being impaired will cause poor judgement,and now you got lots of time to think about it. What a waste of more brothers!!
May 12th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
What a terrible pair of outlaws these two cretins are. Both deserve a long stretch in their soon to be New Found Home at Sheriff Mascara’s Correctional Institution. Both apparantly have the hearts of dangerous criminals robbing and taking what is not theirs to satisfy their needs. I am left wondering just how many other strong arm robberies or burglaries they’ve concorted in the past. Surely this brazen felonious act with a loaded firearm threatening the lives of anyone who would interfer deserves a swift and lengthy jail term. Society can not abide these dangerous derelicts for a minute more. At their young ages their crimes could only lead to a string of homicides. I am sure they are a disgrace to their families who are left stunned by their criminal behavior.
Fortunately they will not be in need of gas for their trendy Escalade for the next few years! They’ve earned their place in Rogues Gallery and their own Facebook style police Rap Sheet. As a former state trooper in my early life they should be glad it wasn’t me returning fire on them!
May 12th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
You all have already convicted these two young brothers. How do you even know if they owned the trendy “Escalade”. (Dirigo)I’m sure those of you making the comments also have criminals in your own families, so let he who is without sin, cast the first stone, “REDNECK BAMMAS”.
May 12th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
SCB- You must be one DS. They robbed a restaurant with a loaded weapon. Why wouldn’t anyone reading that convict the losers? What possible circumstances would make that OK? You must think like that dickless cheney. He admits he gave orders to torture whnich breaks several laws then claims it saved lives- no proof- just his lying word. If these two losers had put some gas in their car and returned to Deerfield Beach would that make the robbery OK because they got home?
May 12th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
SCB-These two young brothers as you call them. Robbed a Waffle House, got involved in a shootout, and confesed (allegedly) to the cops. If that doesn’t convict them I don’t know what will. They are stupid, arrogant, morons who think thay can do what they want. Let them rot in county for a while.
February 21st, 2010 at 9:43 am
Y.B.M